MILDENHALL (Midnall), John

MILDENHALL (Midnall), John. Little Bedwell, Wiltshire 1560 — Ajmer 1614. British Traveller in India, self-styled envoy of the E.I.C. to Mughal Court in 1603. Son of Sir John M. Starting 1599, he sailed to Constantinople and Aleppo and then travelled through Armenia, Kurdistan, Iran and Afghanistan to Lahore, arriving in 1603. Akbar was first favourable, but Portuguese Jesuits criticised the British and M. himself turned out to be too stiff in his behaviour. Without an interpreter he had to learn Persian himself. Returned, he claimed to have reached an agreement, which has been suspected. His rerlation with the Company was at best precarious and he was accused of abuse. He married Elizabeth Bates 1579. Died of illness on a second visit to India.